Art of decorating pipes



April .15, 1930. 'I G. sT. JOHN, JR i 1,754,289

ART O DECORATING PIPES Filed bot. s, 1928 xIl Afm-Town Patented Apr. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orrice A GEORGE ST. JOHN, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 WM. DEMUTH CO., OF NEW YORK, N. `Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW' YORK ART OF DECORATING PIPES My invention relates to the art of decorating smoking pipes, cigar and cigarette holders and similar articles, and has more especial reference to a novel method of applying designs to suoli articles, and to the articles themselves.

@ne of the objects of my invention is to provide a method by which virtually anyone, Whether skilled or unskilled, may apply designs unlimited in number and variety to the articles, and by means of which the operator is absolutely unrestricted in the exercise of fancy in projecting and applying the design.

Another object is to enable such a method t-o be cheaply and expeditiously performed, by means of simple and readily procurable instrumentalities. Other objects will be apparent from the following description, wherein, for the sake` of brevity, I will refer to the decorating of smoking pipes although it is to be understood that my invention is not so limited in its application.

In carrying out my novel method, I apply to a pipe of any shape and usual material an elastic preparation in ribbon or strand form defining the `design which the finished pipe is to have. The design may be one according to pattern but in the great majority of cases, it will be, and preferably should be, eccentric or haphazard in the sense thatit will simply represent the momentary fancy or the artistry of the operator. After application of such design, the pipe is sandblasted, whereupon the elastic ribbon or strand which delined the design is removed. The pipe may then be polished or otherwise treated, and the resulting article is highly attractive in appearance showing marked, in some cases pleasingly striking, contrasts between the sandblasted portions and those which were covered by the elastic material during the Sandblasting.

To more fully explain the invention, I have illustrated, in the accompanying drawing, an apparatus which is well adapted for use in carrying out the novel method. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a partial elevation area partial section of such apparatus, and Fig. 2 is an illustration of the manner of applying the elastic ribbon or strand to the bowl of a pipe.

The apparatus is mounted on a pedestal 10 and comprises a suitably shaped outer casing 11 and an inner chamber 12 which may be termed the glue tank. The outer Wall of the glue tank is spaced from the inner wall of the casing so as to provide a hot water cham* ber 1.3. Leading to the'glue chamber 12 is an air pipe 141, provided with the usual control valve 15 and pressure gauge 16, and leading into the hot water chamber 13 is a steam pipe 17 controlled by a valve 18.

Extending outwardly from the lower end of the glue chamber 12, through the hot water chamber and through the casing is one or a series of glue discharge pipes 19 each having a nozzle 20 the emission opening of which isso shaped as to discharge the glue in ribbon or strand form.

The glue in tank 12 is desirably a properly proportioned mixture of technical gelatine, white pigment, glycerine, water and deodorizing oils; the mixture has the consistency of soft rubber, at room temperature. The water in the chamber 13 is maintained at approximately 190o F. by steam admitted through pipe 17 and the glue is forced out of tank 12, through pipes 19 and nozzles 20 by air under approximately 70 pounds pressure entering the glue tank through air pipe 14. The discharge from nozzles 2O is valve controlled.

With an apparatus such as that described, the operator properly positions a pipe 21 (which may be of 'briar wood or other appropriate material) and oscillates the nozzle so as to form on the pipe any conventional or bizarre design formed by the ribbon or strand 22 of glue. It is, of course, obvious that the nozzle may be stationary and only the pipe moved during the operation, or that both pipe and nozzle may be moved, although the usual and preferred procedure is to oscillate the nozzle.

After application and setting of the design, the pipe is sandblasted, the glue stripped or otherwise removed from the pipe and the latter may then be polished. The pipe lends itself naturally to an unusual finish; the high plain surfaces which were protected from the blast by the glue covering take a brilliant color and finish which presents an attractive ico contrast to the dull dark im'sh produced on the sandblasted surface.

I am aware of the fact that it is common in a number of arts to ornament surfaces by coveringrpart thereof with a resistant covering, and, thereafter applying a sandblast tothe unprotected or uncovered parts of such surfaces, but my invention is sharply distin uished from such rior practice in that I crm the design (w ich, as above stated,

may be infinitely varied) by and during the initial application of the resist, and I believe that to be entirely new in the art.

I claim:

The herein described method of forming designs on pipes, which consists in applying to a pipe surface having no indication of the ultimate design thereon, a ribbon or strand of elastic resist to thereby form an desired design on such pipe surface, and tiereafter treating the pipe to contrast the designed surface with thatY portion of the surface which was covered by the resist.

In testimony whereof I aX my signature.

GEORGE ST. JOHN, JR. 

